CHASSIS NUMBER: 005

https://www.classicdriver.com/en/article/cars/bringing-noise-twrs-thunderous-jaguar-xj-s

In late 1981 Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) was involved in an evaluation programme for Jaguar Cars after secret meetings at the famous Browns Lane headquarters in Coventry. These meetings centred on the proposal by Tom Walkinshaw to run a team of XJS’s in the new Group A regulations of the 1982 European Touring Car Championship (ETCC). TWR were at that time as both the largest and most successful touring car team in Britain.

Over the course of three years, TWR built seven Group A Jaguar XJS race cars with our car being chassis TWR JC 84A005. The car made its competition debut in 1984 at Zolder where it was driven by Win Percy and team co-owner Chuck Nicholson, immediately quick with a 3rd on the grid. Next up was Mugello where 005 was convincingly on pole with Percy and new superstar F1 driver and future Jaguar Le Mans winner, Martin Brundle. Unfortunately a puncture would rob them of victory. Jaguar were happy though as TWR had taken them to the 1984 ETCC crown, beating the best from the Austin Rover, BMW, Volvo and Alfa Romeo factory teams.

Shortly after Mugello, the car was hastily painted in the famous John Player Special black and gold livery and shipped to Macau where Walkinshaw took the car to victory in the Group A ‘Guia’ race supporting the famous annual Macau GP for Formula 3 cars, long considered the launch pad of many Formula 1 careers including Ayrton Senna.

For 1985, chassis 005 would then go onto tackle the legendary Bathurst 1000 as part of the factory Jaguar squad. Running the number 9 on the door, Allam and Dickson were on the front row in qualifying and swapping the lead until engine gremlins confined them to the pits. The car would stay out in the southern hemisphere though racing in Japan and New Zealand – making it the last ever TWR XJS to race internationally, and therefore the most developed of them all.

The car will be delivered race-ready having just benefitted from a refresh and upgrade to the engine at Moto Historics, with no regard to costs. As one of only 4 genuine TWR XJS Group A cars in existence, chassis 005 will be as welcome at the Goodwood Festival of Speed as it will be at the sharp end of MRL's Historic Touring Car Challenge. It would also be a potential winner in Peter Auto's HTC, and comes with a useful spares package.

1984:
Zolder - DNF - Nicholson, Percy (3rd on the grid, water pump failure in race)
Mugello - DNF - Percy, Brundle (POLE position, puncture in race)
Macau GP – POLE and 1st OVERALL - Walkinshaw (the car was repainted in John Player Special colours for the race)

1985:
Bathurst - DNF - Allam, Dickson (2nd on the grid, engine problem in the race)

1986:
Fuji - DNF - Walkinshaw, Percy (POLE, oil pressure in race)

1987:
Wellington NZ – DNF – Walkinshaw, Percy (diff)
Pukekohe NZ – 2nd overall – Percy, Hahne (3rd in Qualifying, 2nd overall in race)

Spares include:

- Dedicated tool box full of specific XJS TWR parts, running equipment.

- 18 wheels

- Crate full of engine parts, with the major components to build a spare engine

- Suspension

- Propshaft

- Brakes

- 105db Exhaust

- Water-cooled brake assembly